Genetic characterization of Mozambican goats was done using microsatellites markers. The genomic DNA from 160 unrelated animals from 4 provinces was extracted and PCR-amplified with a panel of 17 microsatellite markers. PCR amplifications were visualized using 5% polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis on an ABI 377 automated sequencer. The data was captured using Genescan 3.1 software and data analysis was carried out using Genotyper 2.0 to determine the fragment sizes in base pairs. The microsatellites chosen in this study amplified well in goats. Allele frequencies ranged from 0.010 to 0.99 for any specific microsatellite. Alleles unique to certain populations were observed with Pafuri goats showing the highest number (13) with allele frequencies ranging from 0.013 to 0.307. The MNA ranged from 5.59 in the Tete population to 6.94 in the Pafuri population within all individuals. The observed heterozygosity (Ho) values ranged from 53% for the Maputo population to 59% for the Pafuri population. The average observed heterozygosity estimate for all populations was 56%. The genetic distance estimates of Nei (1972) were used and ranged from 0.037 to 0.205. The greatest genetic distance was observed between the Maputo and Pafuri populations. The highest gene flow (8.36) was observed between the Tete and Maputo populations. 84.38% of populations studied were correctly assigned to their original population. The results indicate that the Pafuri and Cabo Delgado populations are the most distinct within all the Mozambican goat populations. There is sufficient genetic variation within Mozambican goat populations with distinct genetic differentiation between the Cabo Delgado and Pafuri goats and the Maputo and Pafuri goats which suggests that they are really different breeds. / Dissertation (MSc (Production Animal Studies))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Production Animal Studies / MSc / unrestricted